What is the best exercise to lose weight?

Choosing the best exercise to lose weight depends on your
individual needs. With an entire area of science dedicated to the art of
fitness and movement it is also big business with many companies declaring their
products to be ‘the best’.

They manage to sell millions of dvds, gadgets, programs and machinery every year claiming to rid you of that unwanted extra weight. However, soon after opening your new fancy machine it is common for most people to become bored and lose interest.

That is why these machines were made to roll under the bed!

The good
news is that the best exercise to lose weight is pretty much anything that gets
you off the couch and moving. Radical I
know but moving your butt up and down stairs, walking around the block, doing
squats and lunges in front of your TV are still the cheapest and most
convenient option for people everywhere.

It used to be said
the harder, faster, longer and more often the exercise the better. However, after recent scientific studies
there has been a shift in that thinking. But again 'any'movement is better than a sedentary life - and
it definitely need not cost a cent. Incorporate it into your day to day
activities such as climbing stairs at work, parking further away from the
shops, gardening and housework. This takes little time, costs
nothing and you don’t even know you are doing it.

The best exercise to lose weight is one that gets you moving. Companionship, music and laughter will boost your workouts.

The key
is to find a workout that you enjoy. Better still find several options you like
and mix it up. This is due to muscle
memory – if you repeatedly work the same muscles in the same way, the body gets used to it and therefore
does not need to work as hard, slowing down weight loss and toning.

A sports
physiologist may be able to tell you specifically the all-time best routine to
drop kilos. They could describe the
immediate benefits you can expect to experience, how many calories you will
burn and the long term positive effects. But the bottom line is if you don’t enjoy it, you
will stop doing it. Or at the very least
you won’t do it well for any sustained period or with any regular frequency.

Committingto a regular fitness
routine is crucial when focusing on weight loss and the many health benefits
gained from sustained exercise. Exercise
can generally be divided into two areas; aerobic and anaerobic, and these very
different types of movement have equally different impacts upon our weight and
physique.

Aerobic
exercise is commonly called ‘cardio’ or cardiopulmonary exercise, and as the
name suggests the heart and lungs are called upon to work harder. Common
examples of aerobic exercise include playing team sports, tennis, walking,
biking, jogging, swimming, rowing, kickboxing, aerobic classes and elliptical training
– to name but a few. Simply put, aerobic exercise improves your
fitness level.

Anaerobic
exercise is essential to the development and toning of muscle. This involves resistance or strength training
such as lifting weights, lunges, squats, and press ups etc. Both types of activity aid weight loss and should featuretogetherin any balanced
program. Remember the more muscle you have the more your body is able to burn fat.

You can
still lose weight simply by dieting alone.
However exercise will help to improve muscle and skin tone, increase
energy levels, improve general well-being and in many cases boost your
metabolism, assisting rapid weight loss.

Tip: Add protein to each meal and drink plenty of water throughout the day

Regular exercise
also increases insulin sensitivity and is also extremely effective at
preventing many chronic diseases as well as relieving stress and improving mood
– vital to those suffering depression.

How do 'you' determine the best exercise to lose weight?

Finding the
best exercise to lose weight for you means working within your
limitations. High impact training may
not be suitable for everyone for a variety of reasons. If you like to walk, mix
up your routine to include some hills and add hand weights. Build up your capacity gradually to avoid
injury and loss of interest. And as mentioned earlier, don’t dismiss regular
activities as a great way to add exercise i.e., mowing the lawn, dancing with
the kids or taking the stairs, all adding to your fitness bank balance.